Method for transporting a long medium

ABSTRACT

A transport method for transporting a long medium in a recording apparatus is performed using a transport control section. The transport control section performs, in a case where a first motor and a second motor are driven so as to transport a long sheet to the downstream side in a transport direction, prescribed processing that is different from the processing in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet becomes equal to or greater than a reference amount, in a case where the deflection amount of the sheet between a shaft member and a sending roller in the transport direction does not become equal to or greater than the reference amount.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/214,168, filed on Aug. 20, 2011, which claims priority to JapanesePatent Application No. 2010-186569, filed Aug. 23, 2010, both of whichare expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a transport device and a transportmethod. More specifically, the present invention relates to a transportdevice and transport method which transport a long medium wound in aroll form on a shaft member so as to feed the medium while rotating theshaft member. The present invention also relates to a recordingapparatus incorporating the transport device.

2. Related Art

One example of a recording apparatus which performs recording on a longmedium (as one example, a long sheet) wound in a roll form on a shaftmember is described in Japanese Patent Doc. JP-A-8-91658. In thatapparatus, the terminus of a sheet that is used in the recordingapparatus is fixed to the shaft member.

A transport device for transporting the sheet in a predeterminedtransport direction in the recording apparatus includes a sending rollerdisposed further downstream in the transport direction than a housingsection where the sheet wound in a roll form is housed, and a drivingmotor which imparts a driving force to the sending roller. Further, adetection sensor for detecting movement of the shaft member with thesheet wound thereon is provided in the housing section.

When transporting the sheet, rotation of the sending roller istransmitted to the shaft member through the sheet, so that the shaftmember rotates in a predetermined rotational direction in conjunctionwith the rotation of the sending roller. Then, the sheet is sent littleby little from the housing section and as a result, causing the sheet tobe transported to a recording area on the downstream side in thetransport direction. At this time, if the sheet wound on the shaftmember is almost exhausted, the shaft member, to which the terminus ofthe sheet is fixed, moves so as to be dragged to the transport directionside of the sheet by a driving force based on the rotation of thesending roller, which is transmitted thereto through the sheet. Whensuch movement of the shaft member is detected by the detection sensor,it is determined that the sheet has run out, and the prescribedprocessing of stopping driving of the driving motor is then performed.

Incidentally, moving the shaft member so as to drag it in accordancewith the sheet running-out causes a great load to act on various memberssuch as the sending roller which is used for transporting the sheet. Thedriving motor that is a driving source of the sending roller. If a greatload is imparted to various members in this manner, the degree ofabrasion of the members becomes high, such that there is a concern thata frequency of execution of maintenance or a frequency of replacement ofa component may become high. Further, a method of detecting that theroll is nearly empty is found in JP-A-8-91658, which describes a methodwhich can be adopted in a case where the terminus of the sheet is fixedto the shaft member, but which cannot be adopted in a case where theterminus of the sheet is not fixed to the shaft member.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides atransport device, a recording apparatus, and a transport method, inwhich in a case where the amount of a medium wound on a shaft member hasbecome small, it is possible to perform prescribed processing that isdifferent from the processing in a case where the remaining amount issufficient, without increasing a load that is applied to various membersnecessary for transporting the medium.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided atransport device that transports a long medium so as to send the mediumdownstream in a transport direction by rotating a shaft member with thelong medium wound thereon in a roll form, the transport device includinga sending roller that is disposed further to the downstream side in thetransport direction than a housing section where the medium wound in aroll form is housed on the shaft member, wherein the sending rollersends the medium to the downstream side in the transport direction, adriving section that generates driving force for rotating the shaftmember and the sending roller, a detection section that detects thedeflection amount of the medium between the shaft member and the sendingroller in the transport direction, and a control section that controls,at the time of transporting the medium downstream, the driving sectionsuch that the deflection amount of the medium which is detected by thedetection section becomes equal to or greater than a predeterminedreference amount, wherein in a case where the driving section is drivenso as to transport the medium downstream in the transport direction, thecontrol section performs prescribed processing that is different fromwhen the deflection amount becomes equal to or greater than thereference amount, in a case where the deflection amount of the mediumwhich is detected by the detection section does not become equal to orgreater than the reference amount.

In addition, in the aspect of the invention, the terminus of the sheetis set not to be fixed to the shaft member.

According to the above configuration, in the case of transporting thelong medium to the downstream side in the transport direction, therotation of the shaft member and the rotation of the sending roller areindividually adjusted such that the deflection amount of the mediumbetween the shaft member and the sending roller in the transportdirection becomes equal to or greater than the reference amount. Forthis reason, compared to a case where the medium is not deflectedbetween the shaft member and the sending roller in the transportdirection, a stress based on the rotation of the sending roller is nottransmitted to the shaft member through the medium. As a result, at thetime of transporting the medium, an increase in load that is applied tovarious members necessary for transporting the medium can be suppressed.

Further, in a case where the driving section is driven so as totransport the long medium to the downstream side in the transportdirection, when the deflection amount of the medium does not becomeequal to or greater than the reference amount, it is determined that theremaining amount of the medium in the housing section has become small.This is because if the remaining amount of the medium in the housingsection becomes small, since the terminus of the medium is not fixed tothe shaft member, the terminus of the medium is separated from the shaftmember, such that the medium cannot be sent even if the shaft member isrotated. In such a case, the prescribed processing that is differentfrom the processing when the deflection amount of the medium between theshaft member and the sending roller in the transport direction becomesequal to or greater than the reference amount is performed. Accordingly,in a case where the remaining amount of the medium wound on the shaftmember has become small, it is possible to perform the prescribedprocessing that is different from the processing in a case where theremaining amount is sufficient, without increasing a load which isapplied to various members necessary for transporting the medium.

In the transport device according to the above aspect of the invention,it is preferable that the driving section be able to generate a firstdriving force that rotates the sending roller and the shaft member in afirst rotational direction so as to transport the medium downstream inthe transport direction and a second driving force that rotates thesending roller and the shaft member in a second rotational directionthat is a direction opposite to the first rotational direction, so as towind the medium on the shaft member, and the control section controls,in the case of winding the medium on the shaft member, the drivingsection such that the deflection amount of the medium which is detectedby the detection section becomes equal to or less than the referenceamount, and performs, in a case where the driving section is driven soas to wind the medium on the shaft member, the prescribed processingthat is different from when the deflection amount becomes equal to orless than the reference amount, when the deflection amount of the mediumwhich is detected by the detection section does not become equal to orless than the reference amount.

According to the above configuration, in the case of winding the longmedium on the shaft member, the rotations in the second direction of theshaft member and the sending roller are individually adjusted such thatthe deflection amount of the medium between the shaft member and thesending roller in the transport direction becomes equal to or less thanthe reference amount. For this reason, compared to a case where themedium is not deflected between the shaft member and the sending rollerin the transport direction, a stress based on the rotation of the shaftmember is not transmitted to the sending roller through the medium. As aresult, in the case of winding the medium on the shaft member, anincrease in the load that is applied to various members necessary fortransporting the medium can be suppressed.

Further, in a case where the driving section is driven so as to wind thelong medium on the shaft member, when the deflection amount of themedium does not become equal to or less than the reference amount, it isdetermined that the remaining amount of the medium in the housingsection has become small. This is because if the remaining amount of themedium in the housing section becomes small, since the terminus of themedium is not fixed to the shaft member, the terminus of the medium isseparated from the shaft member, so that the medium cannot be wound evenif the shaft member is rotated. In such a case, the prescribedprocessing that is different from the processing when the deflectionamount of the medium between the shaft member and the sending roller inthe transport direction becomes equal to or less than the referenceamount is performed. Accordingly, in a case where the remaining amountof the medium wound on the shaft member has become small, it is possibleto perform the prescribed processing that is different from theprocessing in a case where the remaining amount is sufficient, withoutincreasing a load which is applied to various members necessary fortransporting the medium.

In the transport device according to the above aspect of the invention,it is preferable that the detection section includes a detector that isdisposed in the housing section, and the detector is disposed furtheroutside than the outer circumferential surface of the roll-shaped mediumin the diameter direction centering on the shaft member, in a case wherethe unused roll-shaped medium in which the medium is wound in a rollform on the shaft member is installed in the housing section.

According to the above configuration, the deflection amount of themedium in the housing section is detected using the detector that isdisposed in the housing section.

In the transport device according to the above aspect of the invention,it is preferable that the driving section includes a first motor thatgenerates a driving force for rotating the shaft member and a secondmotor that generates a driving force for rotating the sending roller.

In the case of controlling the rotation of the shaft member and therotation of the sending roller with a single motor, it is necessary toprovide a mechanism for adjusting the magnitude of a driving force fromthe motor to the shaft member and a mechanism for adjusting themagnitude of a driving force from the motor to the sending roller. Forthis reason, there is a possibility that the configuration and controlof the driving section may be complicated. In this regard, in theinvention, the first motor for the shaft member and the second motor forthe sending roller are separately provided. For this reason, theconfiguration and control of the driving section can be simplifiedcompared to the case of controlling the rotation of the shaft member andthe rotation of the sending roller with a single motor.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided arecording apparatus including the above-described transport device, anda recording section that is disposed further to the downstream side inthe transport direction than the sending roller and attaches fluid tothe medium.

According to the above configuration, even if the recording apparatus isprovided with the transport device, the operation and the advantageouseffects equivalent to those of the above-described transport device canbe obtained.

In the recording apparatus according to the above aspect of theinvention, it is preferable that the prescribed processing includes atleast one process of a process of blocking power transmission to theshaft member, a process of giving notice of the effect that theremaining amount of the medium in the housing section has become small,a process of prompting replacement with a new medium, and a process ofgiving notice of a recording-processable recording amount.

According to the above configuration, in a case where it is determinedthat the amount of the medium in the housing section is small, at leastone process of a process of blocking power transmission to the shaftmember, a process of giving notice of the effect that the remainingamount of the medium in the housing section has become small, a processof prompting replacement with a new medium, and a process of givingnotice of a recording-processable recording amount is performed.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided atransport method that transports a long medium so as to send the mediumto the downstream side in a transport direction by rotating a shaftmember with the long medium wound thereon in a roll form, whereinfurther to the downstream side in the transport direction than a housingsection for the medium wound in a roll form on the shaft member, asending roller that rotates in order to send the medium sent from thehousing section side, to the downstream side in the transport direction,is disposed, the method including: performing rotation control thatrotates the shaft member and the sending roller such that the deflectionamount of the medium between the shaft member and the sending roller inthe transport direction becomes equal to or greater than thepredetermined reference amount, and performing prescribed control thatcarries out, in a case where the shaft member and the sending rollerrotate so as to send the medium downstream in the transport direction,prescribed processing that is different from the processing when thedeflection amount becomes equal to or greater than the reference value,when the deflection amount of the medium does not become equal to orgreater than the reference amount.

According to the above configuration, the operation and the advantageouseffects equivalent to those of the above-described transport device canbe obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically illustrating a recording apparatusof an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram describing a disposition state of adeflection detection sensor;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main section of the electricalconfiguration of the recording apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a main section of the functionalconfiguration of a controller;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart describing a sending processing routine; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram describing a deflection detection sensorof another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, one embodiment embodying the invention will be described onthe basis of FIGS. 1 to 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, a recording apparatus 11 of the first embodiment isa serial type ink jet printer. Such a recording apparatus 11 includes ahousing section 12 which houses a long sheet SL as one example of a longmedium comprising rolled paper (a roll-shaped medium) RS wound in a rollform, and a transport device 13 which transports the long sheet SL byfeeding it incrementally from the inside of the housing section 12.Further, a recording unit 14 serving as one example of a recordingsection which performs recording with respect to the long sheet SL isprovided at a midway position in a transport direction Y (also referredto as a “sub-scanning direction”) of the long sheet SL.

The transport device 13 includes a transport unit 15 which transportsthe long sheet SL from an upstream position (the housing section 12side) in the transport direction Y toward a downstream position (therecording unit 14 side). Further, in the transport device 13, a cuttingunit 16 which cuts the long sheet SL is provided at a cutting positionP1 on the downstream side (in FIG. 1, the left side) in the transportdirection Y of the recording unit 14. The cutting unit 16 cuts arecorded portion SC, where a recording process has been completed on thelong sheet SL, from the long sheet SL. Further, at the downstream sidein the transport direction Y of the cutting position P1, a dischargeunit 17 is provided which discharges the recorded portion SC cut fromthe long sheet SL to a discharge tray 18 which is located at the mostdownstream side in the transport direction Y.

The rolled paper RS of this embodiment is made by winding the long sheetSL on a shaft member 20 which extends in a scanning direction (in thisembodiment, it is a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paperand is also referred to as a “main scanning direction”) perpendicular tothe transport direction Y. In this embodiment, the terminus of the longsheet SL is not fixed to the shaft member 20. For this reason, when thesheet SL which is wound on the shaft member 20 is consumed, the terminusof the sheet SL is separated from the shaft member 20.

Further, in a case where the rolled paper RS has been set in the housingsection 12, a first motor 21 is connected to the shaft member 20 througha clutch mechanism section 45 in a power-transmittable state, as shownin FIG. 2. The clutch mechanism section 45 is configured so as to enteran engagement state where transmission of power from the first motor 21to the shaft member 20 is permitted or a release state where the powertransmission is blocked, on the basis of a control command from acontrol device 60. In addition, an electromagnetic clutch can be givenas one example of the clutch mechanism section 45.

Then, if a first driving force generated at the first motor 21 istransmitted to the shaft member 20, the shaft member 20 rotates in afirst rotational direction R1, so that the rolled paper RS is sent inthe form of the long sheet SL from the housing section 12 to the outsideof the housing section 12. On the other hand, if a second driving forcegenerated at the first motor 21 is transmitted to the shaft member 20,the shaft member 20 rotates in a second rotational direction R2 which isa direction opposite to first rotational direction R1, so that the longsheet SL is wound on the shaft member 20. In addition, even if the shaftmember 20 is made to rotate in a state where the terminus of the sheetSL has been separated from the shaft member 20, the shaft member 20 onlyidles. Specifically, even if the shaft member 20 is made to rotate inthe first rotational direction R1, the sheet SL is not fed from insidethe housing section 12. Further, even if the shaft member 20 is made torotate in the second rotational direction R2, the sheet SL is not woundon the shaft member 20.

Further, a contact-type deflection detection sensor SE2 serving as oneexample of a detector for detecting deflection of the sheet SL in thehousing section 12 is provided inside the housing section 12. A firstdistance L1 between the deflection detection sensor SE2 and the shaftmember 20 is longer than a second distance L2 between an outercircumferential surface RSa of the unused rolled paper RS and the shaftmember 20. That is, the deflection detection sensor SE2 is disposed at aposition separated from the shaft member 20 further than the outercircumferential surface RSa of the unused rolled paper RS in a diameterdirection centering on the shaft member 20. In this embodiment, thedeflection detection sensor SE2 is disposed at the lower side in thedirection of gravitational force of the shaft member 20. Then, in a casewhere the sheet SL has come into contact with the deflection detectionsensor SE2, a corresponding detection signal is output from thedeflection detection sensor SE2 to the control device 60. On the otherhand, in a case where the sheet SL does not come into contact with thedeflection detection sensor SE2, a corresponding detection signal isoutput from the deflection detection sensor SE2 to the control device60.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the transport unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transport unit 15 includes a sending section 22for sending the long sheet SL incrementally downstream in the transportdirection Y, and a transport roller pair 23 which is disposed at thedownstream side in the transport direction Y of the sending section 22.The sending section 22 includes a sending roller 22 a which is disposedat the back face side of the long sheet SL, and a driven roller 22 bwhich is disposed at the surface side of the long sheet SL. That is, thedriven roller 22 b is disposed facing the sending roller 22 a with thelong sheet SL interposed therebetween. Further, a second motor 24 isconnected to the sending roller 22 a in a power-transmittable state.

Then, in a case where a first driving force generated at the secondmotor 24 is transmitted to the sending roller 22 a, the sending roller22 a rotates in the first rotational direction R1 and also the drivenroller 22 b is driven and rotated following the rotation of the sendingroller 22 a. As a result, the long sheet SL is sent to the downstreamside in the transport direction Y by the sending section 22. On theother hand, in a case where a second driving force generated at thesecond motor 24 is transmitted to the sending roller 22 a, the sendingroller 22 a rotates in the second rotational direction R2 and also thedriven roller 22 b is driven and rotated following the rotation of thesending roller 22 a. As a result, the long sheet SL is returned to theinside of the housing section 12 on the upstream side in the transportdirection Y by the sending section 22. Accordingly, in this embodiment,a driving section that generates a driving force for rotating the shaftmember 20 and the sending roller 22 a is constituted by the first motor21, the second motor 24, and the clutch mechanism section 45.

The transport roller pair 23 includes a transport roller 23 a and adriven roller 23 b, which are disposed facing each other with the longsheet SL interposed therebetween. As one example, the transport roller23 a is disposed at the back face side of the long sheet SL while thedriven roller 23 b is disposed at the surface side of the long sheet SL.A transport motor 25 is connected to the transport roller 23 a in apower-transmittable state. Then, in a case where a first driving forcegenerated by the transport motor 25 is transmitted to the transportroller 23 a, the transport roller 23 a rotates in the first rotationaldirection and also the driven roller 23 b is driven and rotatedfollowing the rotation of the transport roller 23 a. As a result, thelong sheet SL is sent to the downstream side in the transport directionY by the transport roller pair 23. On the other hand, in a case where asecond driving force generated at the transport motor 25 is transmittedto the transport roller 23 a, the transport roller 23 a rotates in thesecond rotational direction which is a direction opposite to the firstrotational direction and also the driven roller 23 b is driven androtated following the rotation of the transport roller 23 a. As aresult, the long sheet SL is returned to the upstream side in thetransport direction Y by the transport roller pair 23.

A leading end detection sensor SE1 for detecting a downstream end(hereinafter also referred to as a “leading end”) in the transportdirection Y of the long sheet SL is provided further upstream in thetransport direction Y than the transport roller pair 23. A detectionsignal from the leading end detection sensor SE1 is output to thecontrol device 60 which controls the recording apparatus 11.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the cutting unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cutting unit 16 includes a cutter 30 which cutsa portion which is located further to the downstream side in thetransport direction Y than the cutting position P1, from the long sheetSL. A motor for cutting 32 is connected to the cutter 30 in apower-transmittable state. Then, when a driving force from the motor forcutting 32 is transmitted to the cutter 30, the cutter 30 cuts the longsheet SL.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the discharge unit 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge unit 17 includes a plurality of (inthis embodiment, two) discharge roller pairs 35 and 36 which is disposedalong the transport direction Y. The discharge roller pairs 35 and 36respectively include driving rollers 35 a and 36 a and driven rollers 35b and 36 b, which pinch the recorded portion SC. As one example, thedriving rollers 35 a and 36 a are disposed at the back face side of therecorded portion SC and also the driven rollers 35 b and 36 b aredisposed at the surface side of the recorded portion SC. A motor fordischarge 38 is connected to the driving rollers 35 a and 36 a which arelocated at the back face side of the recorded portion SC, in apower-transmittable state. Then, when a driving force from the motor fordischarge 38 is transmitted to the driving rollers 35 a and 36 a, therecorded portion SC is discharged to the downstream side in thetransport direction Y by the respective discharge roller pairs 35 and36.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the recording unit 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the recording unit 14 includes a guide shaft40 that extends in a scanning direction X (in FIG. 1, a directionperpendicular to the plane of the paper) perpendicular to the transportdirection Y. The guide shaft 40 is supported at both ends in thelongitudinal direction thereof on a main body case (not shown) of therecording apparatus 11 and is disposed at the surface side (in FIG. 1,the upper side) of the long sheet SL. A carriage 41 is connected to sucha guide shaft 40 in a state where it can reciprocate along thelongitudinal direction (that is, the scanning direction X) of the guideshaft 40. The carriage 41 moves along the scanning direction X on thebasis of a driving force which is transmitted from a carriage motor 43.

Further, the carriage 41 supports a recording head 44. Ink as oneexample of fluid is supplied to the recording head 44 from an inkcartridge (not shown) mounted on a holder section (not shown) of therecording apparatus 11 in a detachable state. A plurality of nozzles(not shown) and driving elements corresponding with the respectivenozzles are provided in the recording head 44. Then, by the driving of acorresponding driving element, ink is ejected from the nozzle toward thesurface (in FIG. 1, the upper face) of the long sheet SL. In addition, asupport member (not shown) which supports the corresponding sheet SL isprovided at the same position as the recording head 44 in the transportdirection Y and at the back face side of the long sheet SL.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the electricalconfiguration of the recording apparatus 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, the recording apparatus 11 is provided with thecontrol device 60 which, in one embodiment, controls the whole of therecording apparatus 11. The control device 60 is made to be capable ofsending and receiving a variety of information such as printing databetween itself and a printer driver PD of a host apparatus HC through aninterface 61.

The control device 60 includes a controller 67 having a CPU 62, an ASIC63 (Application Specific IC), a ROM 64, a nonvolatile memory 65, and aRAM 66. The controller 67 is electrically connected to various drivers69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, and 76 through a bus 68. Then, the controller 67controls the motors 21, 24, 25, 32, 38, and 43 through the motor drivers69 to 74 and also individually controls the respective driving elementsin the recording head 44 through the driver for head 76. Also, thecontroller 67 controls driving of the clutch mechanism section 45.

In the ROM 64, various control programs, various data, and the like arestored. In the nonvolatile memory 65, various programs including afirmware program, various data necessary for the printing process, andthe like are stored. An image area 66 a, in which printing data receivedfrom the host apparatus HC, data during processing of the printing data,and data after the processing are stored, is provided in the RAM 66.

Next, a description will be made with respect to the controller 67 ofthis embodiment. In addition, in FIG. 4, to facilitate understanding ofthe explanation of the specification, illustrations of various drivers69 to 74, and 76 are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the controller 67 includes, as functional sectionswhich are realized by at least one of software and hardware, a dataprocessing section 80, a recording control section 81, a cutting controlsection 82, and a transport control section 84 as a control section.

The data processing section 80 converts data except for a command amongthe printing data received through the interface 61 into bitmap data, inwhich a printing dot is expressed by a gradation value, and then expandsthe bitmap data. Then, the data processing section 80 generates bitmapdata for one pass on the basis of the expanded data and then outputs thebitmap data for one pass to the recording control section 81. Inaddition, “one pass” refers to movement in the scanning direction X ofone time of the recording head 44 (that is, the carriage 41) involvingink ejection.

Further, the data processing section 80 interprets a command which isincluded in the printing data received through the interface 61, therebyacquiring a recording mode and the unit transport amount of the longsheet SL at the time of recording processing. Then, the data processingsection 80 outputs the information about the acquired recording mode tothe recording control section 81 and also outputs the information aboutthe acquired unit transport amount to the transport control section 84.In addition, as the recording mode, a draft printing mode with emphasison a printing speed and a highly-detailed printing mode with emphasis onprinting precision can be given as an example.

The recording control section 81 includes a carriage control section 85and a head control section 86. The carriage control section 85 setsmovement control information such as the movement speed, the movementstart position, and the stop position of the carriage 41 at the time ofrecording processing on the basis of the recording mode input from thedata processing section 80. Then, the carriage control section 85controls driving of the carriage motor 43 on the basis of the setmovement control information.

The head control section 86 individually controls driving of therespective driving elements (not shown) which are mounted on therecording head 44, on the basis of the input bitmap data for one pass.That is, in this embodiment, the recording control section 81 carriesout recording on the long sheet SL by making movement in the scanningdirection X of the carriage 41 and driving of the recording head 44interlock with each other. Then, when recording for one pass iscompleted, the recording control section 81 outputs that fact to thetransport control section 84.

The cutting control section 82 controls driving of the motor for cutting32 so as to cut the long sheet SL, in a case where a cutting command forthe sheet SL is input thereto from the transport control section 84.Then, in a case where cutting of the sheet SL has been completed, thecutting control section 82 stops driving of the motor for cutting 32 andalso outputs the fact that cutting has been completed, to the transportcontrol section 84.

To the transport control section 84, the information about the unittransport amount is input from the data processing section 80 and alsosignals from the leading end detection sensor SE1 and the deflectiondetection sensor SE2 are input. Such a transport control section 84includes a paper feed control section 87 and a discharge control section88. In a case where the leading end of the long sheet SL is detected onthe basis of the signal from the leading end detection sensor SE1, thepaper feed control section 87 controls driving of the transport motor25, that is, the transport amount of the long sheet SL on the basis ofthe detection result. Further, the paper feed control section 87controls driving of the first motor 21 and the second motor 24 on thebasis of a detection signal from the deflection detection sensor SE2. Inaddition, a method of controlling the first motor 21 and the secondmotor 24 on the basis of a detection signal from the deflectiondetection sensor SE2 will be described more fully below.

Further, in a case where it has been detected that the amount of thesheet SL remaining in the housing section 12 is small, the paper feedcontrol section 87 notifies the host apparatus HC of this fact throughthe interface 61. Then, the paper feed control section 87 causes theclutch mechanism section 45 to be in a release state and maintains therelease state of the clutch mechanism section 45 until a new rolledpaper RS is set in the housing section 12. On the other hand, the paperfeed control section 87 makes the clutch mechanism section 45 be in anengagement state in a case where setting of the new rolled paper RS inthe housing section 12 is detected.

Further, if the fact that the recording for one pass has been completedis input from the recording control section 81 at the time of recordingprocessing, the paper feed control section 87 controls driving of thetransport motor 25 such that the long sheet SL is transported by a unittransport amount. Then, if the transporting of the long sheet SL iscompleted, the paper feed control section 87 outputs the effect to therecording control section 81. That is, in this embodiment, transportingof the long sheet SL and ejection of ink by the recording head 44 arealternately performed, whereby an image is recorded on the long sheetSL.

The discharge control section 88 controls driving of the motor fordischarge 38 in order to discharge the recorded portion SC cut from thelong sheet SL.

Next, a sending processing routine among various control processingroutines that the controller 67 of this embodiment execute will bedescribed on the basis of a flowchart shown in FIG. 5. The sendingprocessing routine is a processing routine for driving the first motor21 and the second motor 24 on the basis of a detection signal from thedeflection detection sensor SE2. Further, the sending processing routineis executed for each predetermined given period in a case where atransport command and a rewinding command are input.

Now, in the sending processing routine, the transport control section 84interprets the input command, thereby determining whether the sheet SLis sent from the inside of the housing section 12 or not (that is,whether the sheet SL is wound on the shaft member 20) (Step S10). In acase where the determination result is affirmative, the transportcontrol section 84 rotates the sending roller 22 a in the firstrotational direction R1 in order to send the sheet SL from the inside ofthe housing section 12 (Step S11). That is, the transport controlsection 84 controls the second motor 24 so as to generate the firstdriving force.

Subsequently, the transport control section 84 determines whether or notthe sheet SL comes into contact with the deflection detection sensor SE2on the basis of a detection signal from the deflection detection sensorSE2 (Step S12). That is, a detection signal from the deflectiondetection sensor SE2 is different in a case where the sheet SL comesinto contact with the deflection detection sensor SE2 and a case wherethe sheet SL does not come into contact with the deflection detectionsensor SE2. Therefore, in this embodiment, in a case where a portionmost separated from the shaft member 20 in the sheet SL is located atthe same position as the deflection detection sensor SE2 in the diameterdirection centering on the shaft member 20 or a position further awaythan this position, it is determined that a deflection amount of thesheet SL has become equal to or greater than a predetermined referenceamount. Accordingly, in this embodiment, a detection section thatdetermines that the deflection amount of the sheet SL has become equalto or greater than the predetermined reference amount, in a case where aportion which is located at the lowermost end in the direction ofgravitational force in the sheet SL is located at the same position asthe deflection detection sensor SE2 in the direction of gravitationalforce or located lower than the position, is constituted by thedeflection detection sensor SE2 and the transport control section 84.

In a case where the determination result in Step S12 is affirmative, thetransport control section 84 determines that the deflection amount ofthe sheet SL between the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a inthe transport direction Y is equal to or greater than the referenceamount, and stops the first motor 21 (Step S13). That is, the transportcontrol section 84 does not rotate the shaft member 20. Subsequently,the transport control section 84 resets a count value CT to be “0(zero)” (Step S14) and then temporarily ends the sending processingroutine.

On the other hand, in a case where the determination result in Step S12is negative, the transport control section 84 determines that thedeflection amount of the sheet SL between the shaft member 20 and thesending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y is less than thereference amount, and drives the first motor 21 so as to rotate theshaft member 20 in the first rotational direction R1 (Step S15). Thatis, the transport control section 84 generates the first driving forcefrom the first motor 21. In addition, the first driving force is setsuch that an amount of the sheet SL sent from the housing section 12 tothe outside becomes greater than a sending amount to the transportroller pair 23 side by the sending section 22 even in a case where thesending roller 22 a rotates in the first rotational direction R1 in astate where the remaining amount of the sheet SL in the housing section12 is small.

That is, in this embodiment, in a case where the long sheet SL istransported downstream in the transport direction Y, the shaft member 20starts to rotate in the first rotational direction R1 at the timing whenthe sheet SL is made not to come into contact with the deflectiondetection sensor SE2, and rotation of the sheet SL is stopped at thetiming when the sheet SL comes into contact with the deflectiondetection sensor SE2.

Subsequently, the transport control section 84 increments the countvalue CT by “1” (Step S16). Since the sending processing routine is aprocess which is executed for each constant period, the count value CTmay also be an elapsed time since the shaft member 20 was started to berotated by the driving force (the first driving force or the seconddriving force) from the first motor 21.

Then, the transport control section 84 determines whether or not thecount value CT updated in Step S16 is equal to or more than apredetermined reference count value CTth (Step S17). The reference countvalue CTth is predetermined to be a time required for two rotations ofthe shaft member 20 which rotates at a constant rotational speed or atime longer than this time. In a case where the determination result inStep S17 is negative (CT<CTth), the transport control section 84temporarily ends the sending processing routine. That is, while thecount value CT is less than the reference count value CTth, the rotationof the shaft member 20 and the rotation of the sending roller 22 a areindividually controlled such that the deflection amount of the sheet SLfurther to the upstream side in the transport direction Y than thesending roller 22 a becomes equal to or greater than the referenceamount. In this regard, in this embodiment, a rotation control step isconstituted by the steps S11, S12, S13, S14, and S15.

On the other hand, in a case where the determination result in Step S17is affirmative (CT≧CTth), the transport control section 84 determinesthat the remaining amount of the sheet SL which is housed in the housingsection 12 has become small. As described above, the terminus of thelong sheet SL is not fixed to the shaft member 20. For this reason, ifthe remaining amount of the sheet SL which is housed in the housingsection 12 becomes small, the terminus of the sheet SL is naturallyseparated from the shaft member 20. Then, even if the shaft member 20 isrotated in the first rotational direction R1, the sheet SL cannot besent from the inside of the housing section 12 to the outside. That is,the shaft member 20 idles. Therefore, in this embodiment, in a casewhere the sheet SL cannot be detected by the deflection detection sensorSE2 even if the shaft member 20 is rotated twice or more, it isdetermined that the terminus of the long sheet SL has been separatedfrom the shaft member 20 due to the reduced remaining amount of thesheet SL in the housing section 12.

Then, the transport control section 84 performs prescribed processingthat is different from the processing before it was determined that theremaining amount of the sheet SL in the housing section 12 has becomesmall (that is, processing in a case where the deflection amount of thesheet SL between the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a in thetransport direction Y is equal to or greater than the reference amount).Specifically, the transport control section 84 stops the first motor 21and the second motor 24 (Step S18) and makes the clutch mechanismsection 45 be in a release state (Step S19). That is, the transportcontrol section 84 blocks power transmission from the first motor 21 tothe shaft member 20. Subsequently, the transport control section 84performs a replacement notice process of the effect that promptsreplacement of the rolled paper RS (Step S20). Accordingly, in thisembodiment, a prescribed control step is constituted by the steps S18,S19, and S20 which are executed after it is determined that theremaining amount of the sheet SL in the housing section 12 has becomesmall. Thereafter, the transport control section 84 temporarily ends thesending processing routine. If the prescribed processing is executed inthis manner, the sending processing routine is not executed until thereplacement of the rolled paper RS is detected.

On the other hand, in a case where the determination result in Step S10is negative, the transport control section 84 rotates the sending roller22 a in the second rotational direction R2 in order to wind the sheet SLon the shaft member (Step S21). That is, the transport control section84 controls the second motor 24 so as to generate the second drivingforce. Subsequently, the transport control section 84 determines whetheror not the sheet SL contacts the deflection detection sensor SE2, on thebasis of the detection signal from the deflection detection sensor SE2(Step S22), similarly to the determination result in the step S12. In acase where the determination result is negative, the transport controlsection 84 determines that the deflection amount of the sheet SL betweenthe shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a in the transportdirection Y is less than the reference amount, and shifts the processingto the above-described step S13.

On the other hand, in a case where the determination result in Step S22is affirmative, the transport control section 84 determines that thedeflection amount of the sheet SL between the shaft member 20 and thesending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y is equal to or greaterthan the reference amount, and drives the first motor 21 so as to rotatethe shaft member 20 in the second rotational direction R2 (Step S23).That is, the transport control section 84 generates the second drivingforce from the first motor 21. Then, the transport control section 84shifts the processing to the above-described step S16.

In the case of winding the sheet SL on the shaft member 20, the rotationof the shaft member 20 and the rotation of the sending roller 22 a areindividually controlled such that the deflection amount of the sheet SLbetween the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a in the transportdirection Y becomes equal to or less than the reference amount.Specifically, the shaft member 20 starts to rotate in the secondrotational direction R2 at the timing when the sheet SL comes intocontact with the deflection detection sensor SE2, and the rotation ofthe sheet SL is stopped at the timing when the sheet SL is made not tocome into contact with the deflection detection sensor SE2.Incidentally, in a case where the remaining amount of the sheet SL inthe housing section 12 becomes small, such that the terminus of thesheet SL is separated from the shaft member 20, the sheet SL cannot bewound on the shaft member 20 even if the shaft member 20 is rotated inthe second rotational direction R2. That is, the shaft member 20 idles.

Therefore, in this embodiment, similarly to the case of transporting thesheet SL to the downstream side in the transport direction Y, in a casewhere the sheet SL continues to contact the deflection detection sensorSE2 even if the shaft member 20 is rotated twice or more in the secondrotational direction R2, it is determined that the remaining amount ofthe sheet SL in the housing section 12 has become small, such that theterminus of the sheet SL has been separated from the shaft member 20. Asa result, the processing of Steps S18 to S20 is executed.

According to the above embodiment, the following advantageous effectscan be obtained.

(1) In the case of transporting the long sheet SL to the downstream sidein the transport direction Y, the rotations in the first rotationaldirection R1 of the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a areindividually adjusted such that the deflection amount of the sheet SLbetween the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a in the transportdirection Y becomes equal to or greater than the reference amount. Forthis reason, compared to a case where the sheet SL is not deflectedbetween the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a in the transportdirection Y, it is difficult for stress based on the rotation of thesending roller 22 a to be transmitted to the shaft member 20 through thesheet SL. Further, in the case of winding the long sheet SL on the shaftmember 20, the rotations in the second rotational direction R2 of theshaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 a are individually adjustedsuch that the deflection amount of the sheet SL between the shaft member20 and the sending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y becomesequal to or less than the reference amount. For this reason, compared toa case where the sheet SL is not deflected between the shaft member 20and the sending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y, stress basedon the rotation of the shaft member 20 is not transmitted to the sendingroller 22 a through the sheet SL. As a result, at the time oftransporting the sheet SL, an increase in load which is applied tovarious members necessary for transporting the sheet SL can besuppressed.

(2) Further, in a case where the first motor 21 and the second motor 24are driven so as to transport the long sheet SL downstream in thetransport direction Y, when the deflection amount of the sheet SL doesnot become equal to or greater than the reference amount, it isdetermined that the amount of the sheet SL remaining in the housingsection 12 is small. This is because if the amount of the sheet SLremaining in the housing section 12 is small, since the terminus of thesheet SL is not fixed to the shaft member 20, the terminus of the sheetSL is separated from the shaft member 20, so that the sheet SL cannot besent to the outside even if the shaft member 20 is rotated. In such acase, the prescribed processing that is different from the processingwhen the deflection amount of the sheet SL between the shaft member 20and the sending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y becomes equalto or greater than the reference amount is performed. Accordingly, in acase where the amount of the sheet SL remaining in the housing section12 has become small, it is possible to perform the prescribed processingthat is different from the processing in a case where the remainingamount is sufficient, without increasing a load which is applied tovarious members necessary for transporting the sheet SL.

(3) Further, in a case where the first motor 21 and the second motor 24are driven so as to wind the long sheet SL on the shaft member 20, whenthe deflection amount of the sheet SL does not become equal to or lessthan the reference amount, it is determined that the amount of the sheetSL remaining in the housing section 12 has become small. In such a case,the prescribed processing that is different from the processing when thedeflection amount of the sheet SL between the shaft member 20 and thesending roller 22 a in the transport direction Y becomes equal to orless than the reference amount is performed. Accordingly, in a casewhere the amount of the sheet SL remaining in the housing section 12 hasbecome small, it is possible to perform the prescribed processing thatis different from the processing in a case where the remaining amount issufficient, without increasing a load which is applied to variousmembers necessary for transporting the sheet SL.

(4) The deflection amount of the sheet SL can be easily detected byusing the deflection detection sensor SE2 provided inside the housingsection 12.

(5) Typically, in embodiments where the deflection detection sensor SE2is disposed at the side (for example, the left side in FIG. 2) of theshaft member 20, it is necessary to provide an additional mechanism formaking the sheet SL deflect to the left side in FIG. 2. In this case, itis necessary to complicate either the configuration of the inside of thehousing section 12 or the shape of the housing section 12. In thisregard, in the embodiment described herein, the deflection detectionsensor SE2 is disposed at the lower side in the direction ofgravitational force of the shaft member 20 in the housing section 12.The sheet SL deflects to the lower side in the direction ofgravitational force due to its own weight. For this reason, since thereis no need to specially provide a configuration for making the sheet SLdeflect in a direction in which the deflection detection sensor SE2 isdisposed, meaning that it is possible to simplify a configuration in theinside of the housing section 12.

(6) In embodiments currently known in the art where the rotation of theshaft member 20 and the rotation of the sending roller 22 a arecontrolled with a single motor, it is necessary to provide a mechanismfor adjusting the magnitude of a driving force from the motor to theshaft member 20 and a mechanism for adjusting the magnitude of a drivingforce from the motor to the sending roller 22 a. For this reason, thereis a possibility that the configuration and control of the drivingsection may be complicated. In contrast to such configurations, however,in the embodiment described herein, the first motor 21 for the shaftmember 20 and the second motor 24 for the sending roller 22 a areseparately provided. For this reason, compared to the case ofcontrolling the rotation of the shaft member 20 and the rotation of thesending roller 22 a with a single motor, it is possible to simplify theconfiguration and control of the driving section.

(7) In this embodiment, when it is determined that the amount of thesheet SL remaining in the housing section 12 has become small, powertransmission from the first motor 21 to the shaft member 20 is blocked.For this reason, wasteful rotation of the shaft member 20 can beavoided. Further, it is possible to prompt the host apparatus HC whichis connected to the recording apparatus 11 to replace the rolled paperRS. For this reason, it is possible to notify a user of a time forreplacement of the rolled paper RS at the appropriate timing.

In addition, the above embodiment may be changed as follows.

In the embodiment, in the sending processing routine, in a case wherethe determination result in Step S17 is affirmative, notice that theremaining amount of the sheet SL in the housing section 12 has becomesmall may also be given. Further, notification may also be givenregarding a recordable recording amount (for example, in the case ofperforming printing of a photograph or the like, the number of printablesheets). That is, it is acceptable if the prescribed processing includesat least one process of a process of blocking power transmission to theshaft member 20, a process of giving notice that the remaining amount ofthe sheet SL in the housing section 12 has become small, a process ofprompting replacement with a new rolled paper RS, and a process ofgiving notice of a recordable recording amount. However, it ispreferable that the prescribed processing includes the process ofblocking transmission of a driving force to the shaft member 20.

In the embodiment, an optical deflection detection sensor (detector) mayalso be provided at the inside of the housing section 12. As shown inFIG. 6, a deflection detection sensor SE2A includes a light emittingsection 50 which emits detection light, and a light receiving section 51which receives the detection light from the light emitting section 50.In a case where such a deflection detection sensor SE2A is disposed atthe lower side in the direction of gravitational force of the shaftmember 20, if the deflection amount of the sheet SL is small, the lightreceiving section 51 can receive the detection light from the lightemitting section 50. On the other hand, if the deflection amount of thesheet SL is large, at least a portion of the detection light from thelight emitting section 50 is shielded by the sheet SL, such that theamount of light received by the light receiving section 51 becomessmall. That is, whether or not the deflection amount of the sheet SL isequal to or greater than the reference amount may also be detected onthe basis of a change in the amount of light received by the lightreceiving section 51.

Further, a magnetic sensor may also be used as the deflection detectionsensor.

The sheet SL may also be deflected to the side of the shaft member 20 inthe housing section 12. In this case, the deflection detection sensorSE2 is disposed at the side of the shaft member 20.

The motor for rotating the shaft member 20 and the sending roller 22 amay also be common. In this case, clutch mechanism sections forperforming connection and disconnection of power may also berespectively provided at a power transmission path between the motor andthe sending roller 22 a and a power transmission path between the motorand the shaft member 20 and each clutch mechanism section may also becontrolled as necessary.

A sensor (for example, a rotary encoder) for detecting a rotationalamount of the shaft member 20 may also be provided. Then, in the case oftransporting the long sheet SL to the downstream side in the transportdirection Y, when the sheet SL does not come into contact with thedeflection detection sensor SE2, a rotational amount of the shaft member20 may also be acquired on the basis of a detection signal from therotary encoder. Then, in a case where two or more rotations of the shaftmember 20 are detected, the prescribed processing may also be executed.

Similarly, in the case of winding the long sheet SL on the shaft member20, when the sheet SL continues to contact the deflection detectionsensor SE2, a rotational amount of the shaft member 20 may also beacquired on the basis of a detection signal from the rotary encoder.Then, in a case where two or more rotations of the shaft member 20 aredetected, the prescribed processing may also be executed.

In the case of rotating the shaft member 20 in the first rotationaldirection R1 or the second rotational direction R2, provided that it isa speed at which a sending amount of the sheet SL based on the rotationof the shaft member 20 becomes greater than a sending amount of thesheet SL based on the rotation of the sending roller 22 a, therotational speed of the shaft member 20 may also be set to be anarbitrary speed.

For example, the rotational speed of the shaft member 20 may also be setto be a speed depending on the recording mode (the draft printing modeor the highly-detailed printing mode) at the time. In general, thetransport speed of the sheet SL in the draft printing mode becomes ahigher speed than the transport speed of the sheet SL in thehighly-detailed printing mode. For this reason, the rotational speed ofthe shaft member 20 in the draft printing mode is set to be a higherspeed than the rotational speed of the shaft member 20 in thehighly-detailed printing mode.

Further, the rotational speed of the shaft member 20 may also be setregardless of the recording mode. In this case, it is preferable to setthe rotational speed of the shaft member 20 such that the sending amountof the sheet SL based on the rotation of the shaft member 20 becomeslarger than the sending amount of the sheet SL based on the rotation ofthe sending roller 22 a at the time of the draft printing mode.

When the sheet SL comes into contact with the deflection detectionsensor SE2 when transporting the long sheet SL downstream in thetransport direction Y, driving of the first motor 21 may also becontrolled such that the rotational speed in the first rotationaldirection R1 of the shaft member 20 becomes slow. Further, in a casewhere the sheet SL does not come into contact with the deflectiondetection sensor SE2 when transporting the long sheet SL to thedownstream side in the transport direction Y, driving of the first motor21 may also be controlled such that the rotational speed in the firstrotational direction R1 of the shaft member 20 becomes fast.

Similarly, in a case where the sheet SL does not come into contact withthe deflection detection sensor SE2 when winding the long sheet SL onthe shaft member 20, driving of the first motor 21 may also becontrolled such that the rotational speed in the second rotationaldirection R2 of the shaft member 20 becomes slow. Further, in a casewhere the sheet SL comes into contact with the deflection detectionsensor SE2 when winding the long sheet SL on the shaft member 20,driving of the first motor 21 may also be controlled such that therotational speed in the second rotational direction R2 of the shaftmember 20 becomes fast.

The recording unit 14 may also be embodied in a so-called lateral typerecording unit in which ink is ejected from the recording head 44 whilemoving the carriage 41 in the transport direction Y. Further, therecording unit 14 may also be embodied in a so-called line head typerecording unit in which the recording head 44 does not move duringrecording processing.

Provided that it is a medium capable of being cut by a blade sectionsuch as the cutter 30, the medium may also be an arbitrary medium suchas cloth, a resin film, a resin sheet, or a metal sheet.

The recording apparatus 11 may also be embodied in a fluid ejectingapparatus in which fluid other than ink is ejected or discharged.Further, the recording apparatus 11 may also be embodied in variousliquid ejecting apparatuses which are each provided with a liquidejecting head or the like that discharges a minutely small amount ofliquid droplets. In this case, the liquid droplets refers to a liquid ina state of being discharged from the above liquid ejecting apparatus andalso includes droplets of a granular shape or a tear shape, or dropletstailing into a line. Further, it is acceptable if the liquid asmentioned herein is a material that can be ejected by a liquid ejectingapparatus. For example, it is acceptable if the liquid is a substance ina state which is a liquid phase, and the liquid includes not onlyliquids in a liquid state with high or low viscosity, a flow state suchas sol, gel water, other inorganic or organic solvents, a solution, aliquid resin, or a liquid metal (metal melt), and one state ofsubstance, but also a material in which particles of a functionalmaterial composed of a solid material such as pigment or metal particlesare dissolved, dispersed, or mixed in a solvent, or the like. Further,ink as described in the above-described embodiments, a liquid crystal,or the like can be given as representative examples of the liquid. Here,ink is set to include general water-based ink and oil-based ink andvarious liquid compositions such as gel ink or hot-melt ink. As aspecific example of the liquid ejecting apparatus, a liquid ejectingapparatus that ejects liquid that includes, in a dispersed or dissolvedform, a material such as an electrode material or a color material,which is used for the manufacturing or the like of, for example, aliquid crystal display, an EL (electroluminescence) display, asurface-emitting display, or a color filter, can be given. Further, theliquid ejecting apparatus may also be a liquid ejecting apparatus thatejects a biological organic matter that is used for the manufacturing ofbiochips, a liquid ejecting apparatus that is used as a precisionpipette and ejects liquid that is a sample, a cloth printing apparatus,a micro-dispenser, or the like. Then, the invention can be applied toany one type of liquid ejecting apparatus among these liquid ejectingapparatuses. Further, the fluid may also be a powder granular materialsuch as toner.

In addition, the fluid as mentioned in this specification may comprise aliquid or a solid or any other configuration so long as the fluid doesis not entirely composed of gas. Further, the recording as mentioned inthis specification is not limited to printing on a sheet such as paper,but is a concept that includes formation of a circuit by recording byadhering ink (or paste) prepared by a material for an element or awiring onto a substrate (recording medium) when manufacturing, forexample, an electric circuit.

In the embodiment, the recording apparatus 11 may also be a recordingapparatus which carries out recording on a medium by another recordingmethod such as a dot impact method or a laser method.

Next, the technical ideas that can be grasped from the above embodimentand other embodiments will be additionally described below.

(A) A transport apparatus in which when transporting the mediumdownstream in the transport direction, the control section controls thedriving section such that the first driving force is imparted to theshaft member, when the deflection amount of the medium that is detectedby the detection section has become less than the reference amount, andcontrols the driving section such that the first driving force is notimparted to the shaft member, when the deflection amount of the mediumthat is detected by the detection section has become equal to or greaterthan a reference amount.

(B) A transport apparatus in which when winding the medium on the shaftmember, the control section controls the driving section such that thesecond driving force is imparted to the shaft member, when thedeflection amount of the medium that is detected by the detectionsection has become equal to or greater than the reference amount, andcontrols the driving section such that the second driving force is notimparted to the shaft member, when the deflection amount of the mediumthat is detected by the detection section has become less than thereference amount.

(C) A transport apparatus in which the detector is disposed at the lowerside in the direction of gravitational force of the shaft member.

(D) A transport apparatus in which when transporting the mediumdownstream in the transport direction, the control section performs theprescribed processing in a case where the deflection amount of themedium that is detected by the detection section does not become equalto or greater than the reference amount even if an elapsed time sincethe shaft member is started to rotate becomes equal to or more than thepredetermined reference time.

(E) A transport apparatus in which when transporting the mediumdownstream in the transport direction, the control section performs theprescribed processing in a case where the deflection amount of themedium that is detected by the detection section does not become equalto or greater than the reference amount even if the rotational amount ofthe shaft member becomes equal to or greater than the predeterminedprescribed rotational amount.

(F) A transport apparatus in which the control section permitstransmission of power from the driving section to the sending roller ina case where replacement of the medium has been detected after theprescribed processing.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transport method that transports a long mediumso as to feed the medium downstream in a transport direction by rotatinga shaft member on which the long medium is wound in a roll form, whereina sending roller rotates in order to feed the medium downstream from ahousing section where the shaft member is housed, the sending rollerbeing disposed downstream from the housing section, the methodcomprising: performing rotation control so as to rotate the shaft memberand the sending roller such that the deflection amount of the mediumbetween the shaft member and the sending roller in the transportdirection becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined referenceamount; and performing prescribed control such that, while the shaftmember and the sending roller are rotating so as to feed the medium tothe downstream side in the transport direction, when the deflectionamount of the medium does not become equal to or greater than thereference amount, prescribed processing is performed that is differentfrom when the deflection amount becomes equal to or greater than thereference value, wherein rotation control is performed using a drivingsection that generates: a first driving force that rotates the sendingroller and the shaft member in a first rotational direction so as totransport the medium downstream in the transport direction; and a seconddriving force that rotates the sending roller and the shaft member in asecond rotational direction that is a direction opposite to the firstrotational direction, so as to wind the medium on the shaft member. 2.The transport method according to claim 1, further comprising: detectingthe deflection amount of the medium using a detection section.